Lille president says reported £43m Arsenal target could be sold in ‘next few days’

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Reported Arsenal target Boubakary Soumare could leave Lille in the “next few days”, the Ligue 1 club’s president Gerard Lopez has told France Bleu.

With just one week remaining in the transfer window, Thomas Partey is no closer to becoming the Patrick Vieira-like figure the Gunners have been missing for as long as we can remember.

In fact, while Lucas Torreira appears to be packing his bags for Atletico Madrid, it looks for all the world as if the Uruguayan ankle-biter will be Partey’s teammate rather than his replacement at the Wanda Metropolitano.

It only makes sense for Arsenal to consider alternatives as the sands of time slip by.

Porto captain Danilo Pereira is set to stay at the Estadio da Luz, while Ibrahim Sangare has swapped Toulouse for PSV Eindhoven.

Soumare, however, remains on the market two weeks after FootMercato linked Arsenal with a £43 million powerhouse likened to a young Paul Pogba thanks to his combination of technical and physical gifts.

“He can leave in the next few days,” says outspoken Lopez of the £43 million-rated midfielder.

There’s perhaps a simple reason why Les Dogues are willing to listen to offers for a man who has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe since the start of last season.

Soumare, despite his many admirers, isn’t even a guaranteed starter under Christophe Galtier. He played just 12 minutes during Lille’s 2-0 triumph over Nantes on Sunday.

And, after committing daylight robbery when selling Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal for £72 million, perhaps Lille are looking to repeat the trick?